Party agent
A party agent is the person who is legally responsible for making disclosures for a political party. A person can be an agent for more than one political party, and can also be the official agent of a third-party campaigner or associated entity.
Party agents of registered parties are also responsible for the management and disclosure of political donations and electoral expenditure, on behalf of elected members of the NSW Parliament, and groups and candidates for state elections that are members of the party.
A party agent of a registered party can also be responsible for the management and disclosure of political donations and electoral expenditure on behalf of local government elected members, groups and candidates that are members of the party, but only in certain circumstances and only where the NSW Electoral Commission has been notified in writing. For more information, contact the NSW Electoral Commission.
Each party is required to appoint a party agent. If at any time a party does not have an appointed party agent, the registered officer of the party is the party agent.
Responsibilities of a party agent
A party agent’s legal obligations include:
- making all required disclosures of political donations and electoral expenditure on behalf of the party and any elected members, candidates and groups for whom the party agent is responsible
- receiving political donations and making payments for electoral expenditure on behalf of elected members, candidates and groups for whom the party agent is responsible
- keeping complete and accurate records of political donations and electoral expenditure on behalf of elected members, candidates and groups for whom the party agent is responsible
- making public funding claims on behalf of the party (applies to parties registered for state elections only)
- reporting to the NSW Electoral Commission, as a senior office holder of the party, any conduct in connection with the party that the party agent knows or reasonably believes constitutes a contravention of electoral funding laws. A party agent who fails to report such conduct without a reasonable excuse is guilty of an offence (applies only to party agents of registered parties).